CVE-2023-1528 Overview
CVE-2023-1528 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Passwords component of Google Chrome prior to version 111.0.5563.110. This memory corruption flaw allows a remote attacker who has already compromised the renderer process to potentially exploit heap corruption through a specially crafted HTML page. The vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the browser.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation of this use-after-free vulnerability could allow attackers to achieve remote code execution, potentially leading to complete compromise of user data, credential theft, and system takeover through heap corruption exploitation.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome versions prior to 111.0.5563.110
- Fedora Project Fedora 36
- Fedora Project Fedora 37
- Fedora Project Fedora 38
Discovery Timeline
- 2023-03-21 - CVE-2023-1528 published to NVD
- 2023-03-21 - Google releases security patch via Chrome Stable Channel Update
- 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-1528
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability exists within Google Chrome's Passwords component, which is responsible for managing saved credentials and autofill functionality. The use-after-free condition occurs when memory that has been freed is subsequently accessed, leading to heap corruption. In browser security contexts, use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution.
The attack requires that an adversary has already compromised the renderer process, which serves as Chrome's sandboxed environment for parsing and rendering web content. Once the renderer is compromised, the attacker can craft malicious HTML content designed to trigger the use-after-free condition in the Passwords component, potentially escaping the sandbox and gaining elevated privileges.
Chromium has classified this vulnerability with a security severity rating of High, reflecting the potential impact and the requirement for prior renderer compromise as a prerequisite for exploitation.
Root Cause
The root cause is a use-after-free memory error (CWE-416) in Chrome's Passwords component. This type of vulnerability occurs when code continues to reference a memory location after that memory has been deallocated. In this case, the Passwords component improperly manages object lifetimes, allowing freed memory to be accessed during password-related operations. When this dangling pointer is dereferenced, it can lead to heap corruption, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate program execution flow.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for CVE-2023-1528 is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker must first compromise Chrome's renderer process through a separate vulnerability or attack chain. Once the renderer is compromised, the attacker serves a specially crafted HTML page to the victim. When the victim's browser processes this malicious page, it triggers the use-after-free condition in the Passwords component.
The exploitation flow involves:
- Initial compromise of the renderer process through a separate attack vector
- Delivery of a crafted HTML page designed to trigger the use-after-free condition
- Manipulation of heap memory layout to achieve code execution
- Potential sandbox escape to gain broader system access
This vulnerability does not require authentication and can be exploited against any user running a vulnerable Chrome version who visits a malicious or compromised website.
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-1528
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual Chrome process behavior, particularly crashes or unexpected terminations in the renderer process
- Memory access violations or heap corruption errors logged in Chrome's crash reports
- Suspicious JavaScript execution patterns targeting password-related browser functionality
- Abnormal network connections initiated by Chrome processes following visits to untrusted websites
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Chrome browser version deployments across the enterprise and flag any instances running versions prior to 111.0.5563.110
- Implement endpoint detection rules to identify use-after-free exploitation patterns such as heap spray techniques and ROP chain execution
- Deploy browser telemetry collection to identify unusual Password Manager component interactions
- Utilize memory integrity monitoring solutions to detect heap corruption attempts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Chrome Enterprise reporting to track browser versions and security status across managed endpoints
- Configure crash dump collection and analysis for Chrome processes to identify potential exploitation attempts
- Monitor for unexpected Chrome child process spawning that may indicate sandbox escape attempts
- Implement network monitoring for connections to known malicious infrastructure following browser exploitation
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-1528
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 111.0.5563.110 or later immediately across all systems
- Enable automatic Chrome updates to ensure timely patching of future vulnerabilities
- Review Fedora systems and apply the latest security updates via the package manager
- Consider temporarily disabling Chrome's password manager functionality in high-risk environments until patching is complete
Patch Information
Google addressed this vulnerability in the Chrome Stable Channel update released on March 21, 2023. The fix is included in Chrome version 111.0.5563.110 and all subsequent releases. Organizations should update to this version or later to remediate the vulnerability.
Additional patch information is available through:
Fedora users should apply updates from the official Fedora package repositories for their respective versions (36, 37, or 38).
Workarounds
- If immediate patching is not possible, consider using an alternative browser until Chrome can be updated
- Implement strict site isolation policies via Chrome enterprise configuration to limit renderer process compromise impact
- Deploy browser isolation solutions for high-risk user populations to contain potential exploitation
- Restrict access to untrusted websites through web filtering proxies as a temporary measure
# Verify Chrome version on Linux/Mac
google-chrome --version
# Expected output should show version 111.0.5563.110 or higher
# For Fedora systems, update Chrome packages
sudo dnf update chromium
# Enable automatic updates in Chrome enterprise policy (Linux)
# Add to /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/policy.json
# { "AutoUpdate": true }
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
